The thing that gets me even more is tuilagi. I mean, honestly, gagai could have his worst game at origin level ever and it'd still be better than tuilagis best last year. He hardly proved the doubters wrong, and then his team gets 66 put on them by the tigers with terrible form this year and suddenly he needs him back in the team. And dearden 19th man? Hammer or Walsh there, backs are the best in the 18th man/concussion spot. Forwards and halves can have their load taken up by the others, if a winger or fb goes down you can't chuck dearden on the fuvking wing, it'd take a huge mid-game re-jig.
The thing that annoys me is if they play well that suddenly slater gets "proven right"... NO! Players EARN their jerseys. Yes coaches have favourites and a particular style but this is just a complete lottery by slater. Not form, not style not past performances at origin level, even the youth bs can be used bcos the replaced players still have years left, can't blame a refresh from a losing series, we even won the last game. It's just random...